Armagh para-athlete Eoin Duffy banned after arm found to be too long by 1cm
A County Armagh athlete is appealing a decision over his disqualification from this year's commonwealth games which found his arm was too long.
It follows a disability ruling in Dubai last month.
Runner Eoin Duffy was born with his left arm shorter than his right.
The 25-year-old was told he doesn’t qualify as an international para-athlete because his left arm is one centimetre too long. That's despite him being recognised on a national level.
He competes in the 100 and 200 metres.
He told UTV: “Unfortunately we went out to Dubai to get internationally classified and that’s what I needed to get to compete in the likes of the Commonwealth games and we were declined."
Eoin has been training for over three years to compete in the games. It’s been a lifetime goal for him but he says the news he received in Dubai was “devastating".
Adam McMullen has been training with Eoin over the last few years. He said he couldn’t believe Eoin didn’t classify at an international level.
“Very shocked," he said, "I think there is some very specific measurements they need…but unfortunately I feel like para-athletes can be quite individual in their disabilities so you have to look more personally towards each of the athletes and I don’t think Eoin got that service.”
Eoin and Adam will both meet with Paralympics Ireland and NI on Wednesday to formally submit their appeal over the decision.